SALEM, Va. – Roanoke College's Bill Pilat, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA men's lacrosse history, announced his retirement Friday afternoon, effective May 30.

The Maroons still have hope to be selected to the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament, with the selection show on Sunday. If Pilat has coached his last game, he leaves with a 413-187 record over 37 seasons at Roanoke College. He is the fourth winningest active coach in the country across all divisions and sixth overall among active and retired coaches. Pilat has a 202-50 record in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) for a winning percentage of over 80 percent.

"I am so proud to have been the coach of Roanoke men's lacrosse for the past 37 years," said Pilat. "The players I have coached mean everything to me. I've worked alongside some great coaches, administrators and athletes and this has been the best 37 years anyone could ask for.  Our tradition of excellence in men's lacrosse is well known throughout all of Division III and this is due to the hard work, commitment and dedication of our players, coaches and assistant coaches from the 1960s to the present day. Thank you to everyone who supported our program and who continue to support Roanoke lacrosse. I am proud to be a Maroon forever."

Pilat was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, and his jersey (No. 37) was retired. He's also a member of the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Pilat coached the Maroons to 10 ODAC titles, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances with four trips to the Final Four. He has been named the ODAC Coach of the Year 11 times and has coached 19 Roanoke College Male Athletes of the Year. Pilat has mentored 22 student-athletes inducted into the RC Sports Hall of Fame and he played with an additional four Hall of Famers. His players have earned 114 All-American Awards.

"Although I've only had the opportunity to work with Coach Pilat for the past two years, it's been immediately clear why he has earned such deep respect across the campus and the lacrosse community," said RC Director of Athletics Curtis Campbell. "His dedication to student-athletes, integrity in leadership, and passion for the game have left a lasting impression. I wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement and thank him for the legacy he leaves behind."

Pilat has a vast coaching tree of former players and coaches, with seven current NCAA head coaches and four in the assistant ranks.

As a player, Pilat was a three-time All-American, two-time ODAC Player of the Year, and the 1985 Roanoke Male Athlete of the Year. Also in 1985, Pilat received the C. Markland Kelly Award and the Hero's Award as the nation's top goaltender. With 710 collegiate saves, he has 29 more stops than any other keeper in school history. In addition to leading the program in career saves, Pilat has also coached six of the nine other players ranked in the top 10 all-time saves list at the school. Three of those goalies have earned All-American status.

"His accolades speak for themselves," said former Roanoke College Athletic Director Scott Allison, who hired Pilat to lead the program in 1989. "Nobody loves Roanoke College more than Bill, and he loved and fought for his players. He has been a great representative of Roanoke College and a first-class role model."

Pilat graduated cum laude from Roanoke in 1985 and earned a master's degree from Alfred University in education in 1986. While at Alfred, he served as a graduate assistant with the Saxons' lacrosse program. Pilat spent the 1987 season as a member of the Washington & Lee University staff, helping the Generals to a national semifinal appearance, before returning to Roanoke as an assistant in 1988.

He currently resides in Roanoke with his wife, Diana, also a 1985 Roanoke graduate. Their two children are Will and Emily. Will was a multiple time All-American at Roanoke, graduating in 2016 and won the 2018 National Championship as an assistant coach at Wesleyan. He is currently in his second season as the head men's lacrosse coach of Immaculata University.

A national search for Pilat's replacement will begin immediately. Assistant coach Chris Piatelli will serve as the interim head coach until a replacement is named.